SCCF releases updated sea turtle nesting report for the islands

June 8, 2018

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation released an updated nesting report today.

Officials reported that the West End nests are catching up to last year's count, while the nests on the East End and Captiva are still on the slow side.

There has also been a lot of plastic trash observed washing up on the beaches recently. On June 6, one SCCF sea turtle patrol picked up over 100 pieces and saw many beach-goers doing the same.

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PHOTO PROVIDEDThe Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that a lot of plastic trash has been observed washing up on the beaches recently. On June 6, one sea turtle patrol picked up over 100 pieces and saw many beach-goers doing the same.

The comparison of nest counts to date (as compared to 2017) are as follows:

Loggerhead nests

- East End: 27 (51 in 2017)

- West End: 121 (124 in 2017)

- Captiva: 44 (79 in 2017)

- Total: 192 (254 in 2017)

Green nests

- East End: 0 (0 in 2017)

- West End: 0 (2 in 2017)

- Captiva: 0 (0 in 2017)

- Total: 0 (2 in 2017)

Kemp's ridley nests

- East End: 0 (0 in 2017)

- West End: 1 (0 in 2017)

- Captiva: 0 (0 in 2017)

- Total: 1 (0 in 2017)

The counts for false crawls are as follows:

Loggerhead

- East End: 55 (98 in 2017)

- West End: 146 (229 in 2017)

- Captiva: 42 (72 in 2017)

- Total: 243 (399 in 2017)

Green

- East End: 0 (0 in 2017)

- West End: 3 (3 in 2017)

- Captiva: 1 (1 in 2017)

- Total: 4 (4 in 2017)

Tips to help keep keep the beaches sea turtle friendly:

- Turn off or shield all lights that are visible from the beach. Do not use flashlights or cell phone lights on the beach. If necessary, use amber or red LED bulbs.

- Do not disturb the screens covering nests. They prevent predators from eating the eggs and the hatchlings emerge through the holes without assistance.

- Remove all beach furniture and equipment from the beach at night.

- Dispose of fishing line properly to avoid wildlife entanglement.

- Fill in large holes that can trap hatchlings and nesting sea turtles.

- Do not disturb nesting turtles - please do not to get too close, shine lights on or take flash photos of nesting sea turtles.